30 JULY 2013 - KOH SAMET, RAYONG, THAILAND: Workers wrestle with an oil soaked absorption boom on Ao Prao beach on Koh Samet island. About 50,000 liters of crude oil poured out of a pipeline in the Gulf of Thailand over the weekend authorities said. The oil made landfall on the white sand beaches of Ao Prao, on Koh Samet, a popular tourists destination in Rayong province about 2.5 hours southeast of Bangkok. Workers from PTT Global, owner of the pipeline, and up to 500 Thai military personnel are cleaning up the beaches. Tourists staying near the spill, which fouled Ao Prao beach, were evacuated to hotels on the east side of the island, which was not impacted by the spill. PTT Global Chemical Pcl is part of state-controlled PTT Pcl, Thailand's biggest energy firm. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ